Val Singh and Susan Vinnicombe. The Female FTSE Report 2006, International
Centre for Women Leaders at the Cranfield School of Management

Abstract:

Only 77 FTSE 100 companies now have women directors, down 1% from last year.
Five FTSE 100 companies appointed their first ever woman director (Cairn Energy,
Rexam, British Land, Reed Elsevier, Shire), but some boards reverted to all-male
status. Thirteen FTSE 100 companies now have female executive directors, up from
only 11 in 2005, but still indicating a major under-development of female talent
after more than three decades of mandatory equal opportunities policies.
However, in line with Higgs’ recommendations, the balance between executive and
non-executive directors is changing, resulting in 20% reduction in executive
seats since 2002, so competition for executive seats is keener than befor